Month: February 2011

Do you experience bloating, indigestion, nausea and various infections, such as yeast or diverticulitis? You could have candida or yeast overgrowth. This condition sometimes occurs with very high consumption of sugars and alcohols but it can also occur if you have low levels of healthy gut bacteria.

Do you ever wonder why you experience yeast infections and/or stomach issues after taking antibiotics? Antibiotics cannot distinguish between the bad bacteria they are killing and the good bacteria in your gut. Yeast overgrowth, which causes the above conditions, occurs when there is not enough healthy bacteria to create an environment to fight these intruders off.

Did you know that you have over 100 trillion bacteria in your gut? Of these approximately 40 species known as Lactobacillus acidophilus are the good bacteria that help your body fight infection, absorb nutrients and normalize bowel function, maintaining balance in your digestive system. Healthy gut bacteria assists with the metabolism and synthesis of food passing through your digestive system as well as fighting harmful pathogens and bacteria such as E-coli. They are also involved with synthesis of the vitamins D and K, helping to build strong bones, teeth, hair and nails. Sadly it is very easy to disrupt these friendly bacteria colonies. How can we ensure our gut bacteria do not get wiped out by bad diet choices, stress and or a weekend bender with your friends doing shots of tequila?

Consumption of probiotics has shown to maintain Lactobacillus acidophilus colonies. If you make a habit of taking them daily you can prevent future digestive disasters, yeast infections can even increase your immunity! In some cases probiotics can help decrease bad reactions to dairy in lactose intolerant individuals.

Are your probiotics giving you a bang for your buck or are you just swallowing fluff? I have tried many on the market and these are my favorite products.

AUSTRALIAInner Health Plus – regular, lactose intolerant and eczema-specific formulas. This product is on the pricey side but is the best in the Oceania market.

UNITIED STATES
Acidophilus and Bifidus 8 Billion by NOW – this product can be found in powdered or capsule form and is reasonably priced.

Is your wallet feeling a little light to be investing in probiotics these days? You can get them into your diet with these various foods.

1.) Kombucha – fermented tea which can be found in most health food stores. Those of you who love pickles and sauerkraut will love this tea!